Column.



PATBNTBD MAY 17, 1904."

J. C. PETERSEN.

, COLUMN.

Patented May 17, 19021.

PATENT OEEICE.

JACOB C. PETERSEN, OF RACINE, VVISCONSIN.

COLUMN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,347, dated May 17, 1904.

Application led September 12, 1903. Serial No. 173,012. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAooB C. PETERsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing atRaeine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Columns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wooden column particularly adapted for outside use, and the purpose of the same is to provide a device of this class made up of a seriesv of staves with interlocking joints and having means to prevent the several staves from warping and bursting or otherwise injuring the joints. The staves are interlocked by means of dovetail joints, and each is formed with a groove on the inner' side to compensate for shrinkage or swelling, and thereby permit the joints to remain in normal condition and unaffected by such operations. Without the grooves or some means in the several staves for taking up shrinkage and accommodating swelling the strain would beconeentrated on the joints and result in splitting of the staves and materially reduce the practical effect of the column.

The preferred form of the column is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a column, showing the manner of interlocking the staves and indicating the groove of one stave in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the upper portion of the column. Fig. 3 is a vertical horizontal section of a lower part of the column. Fig. 4; is a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the staves looking toward the inner side thereof. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of two of the staves, showing the cooperating features of the connection therefor.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The column is composed of a series of staves l, which are longitudinally tapered and having outer convex surfaces. The edges of each stave are formed with a series of dovetail seats 2 and dovetail projections 3. The

inner portion of each stave is also formed with a diagonal groove 1, which extends acrossthe center or from a point near one edge of the upper part of the stave to a point near the opposite edge of the lower part of said stave.

The thickness of the material employed in forming the staves will depend entirely upon the general dimensions of the column, and the frequency of the intervals between the seats will also be modiiied proportionately to differentiation in the dimensions. It will be understood that the dovetail seats 2 and projections 3 of the several staves will be so positioned in relation to each other that the projections of one stave will be opposite the seats of the adjacent stave.

In assembling the several parts of the column the staves are interlocked and their outer convex surfaces give to the column a circular contour which varies in diameter regularly from the upper to the lower extremity. The advantage of the grooves 4, as heretoforeindicated, is that the strain on the several staves, as well as the .slight change in dimensions of the same due to shrinkage and swelling, is relieved from the joints, `and the latter are not in the `least impaired, and consequently the column as an entirety is rendered more strong and durable and the individual staves are prevented from splitting. Moreover, the several dovetail joints are prevented from opening up, and it is proposed in assembling the several staves that adhesive material be applied to the joints and will preferably con sist of good paint, which when dry will stick better than glue and is very much more advantageous in view of the fact that glue in time will be affected by atmospheric changes.

It is proposed to use the column constructed in accordance with the features of this invention for general supporting purposes, and when paint or other covering' material or sub stance is applied to the exterior thereof the several joints will be practically hidden andthe column will appear as one continuous structure. It will also be seen that by forming the column of staves in the manner explained it can be more expeditiously erected.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A column, composed of aseries of interlooked parts having grooves extending diagogrooves extending diagonally over the inner nally over the inner portions thereof. portions thereof. t y 1 Y IO 2. A column, composed of a series of inter- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in locked longitudinally-tapered staves having presence of two Witnesses. 5 grooves extending diagonally over the inner JACOB C. PETERSEN.

portions thereof. Witnesses:

3. A. column, composed of aseries of staves OWEN W. OWEN,-

having interlocking edge dovetailjoints and PETER NELSON. 

